Logistics Debt Recovery: Supporting Global Courier, Freight, Transport and

The transport and logistics industry faces a unique set of financial challenges, with one of the most significant being the recovery of unpaid VAT, Duty, and transportation costs.

These debts are often high in volume, complex, and cross-border in nature. If left unresolved, they can disrupt financial planning, increase administrative overheads, and reduce available working capital.

At Controlaccount, we specialise in debt recovery for courier, freight, transport, and logistics companies worldwide. With over 45 years of experience, we provide sector-specific strategies to recover unpaid VAT, Duty, and other transportation-related charges - ensuring our clients maintain financial stability and streamline their processes.

The Challenge of Recovering VAT and Duty in Transport & Logistics

For global transport and logistics businesses, recovering unpaid VAT and Duty can be especially challenging:

• Disputes and delays – customers may dispute their liability or deliberately withhold payment
• Cross-border complexity – international recoveries often require navigating multiple jurisdictions and regulations
• Fragmented collections – using multiple debt recovery agencies often creates duplication, inconsistent reporting, and added costs

For these reasons, many companies are now seeking a single, specialist partner in logistics debt recovery to manage both UK and international collections efficiently.

How Controlaccount Supports Courier, Freight and Logistics Providers

Controlaccount delivers a full range of transport and logistics debt collection solutions, tailored to the specific needs of the sector. These include:

• Pre-legal recovery processes – resolving cases before costly litigation is required
• International debt collection capability – supported by multi-currency systems and a trusted global network
• Specialist VAT and Duty recovery expertise – ensuring correct charges are collected quickly and effectively
• ClientWeb reporting portal – providing transparency, self-service account management, and real-time reporting
• Bespoke services – including branded communication, “fast track” processes for customers in financial difficulty, trace and verification services, and in-house legal support where required

Our goal is to maximise recoveries, reduce reliance on litigation, and streamline processes for transport and logistics companies across the globe.

Case Study: US-Based Global Delivery Provider

In 2012, Controlaccount was appointed as the sole debt recovery agency for a US-based global delivery service provider with annual revenues of $566 billion – a partnership that has now continued successfully for over 13 years.

The challenge

The client had been employing several agencies to recover VAT, Duty, and transportation costs – typically low-value, high-volume cases. This multi-agency approach resulted in duplication, inefficiencies in payment files, and complexity in invoice management.

To streamline processes and reduce costs, the client launched an internal review to select one exclusive debt recovery partner. Controlaccount scored highest across sector experience, debt collection success, reporting capability, profitability against performance, and process streamlining, and was appointed as the sole provider.

The difference made

Since then, Controlaccount has delivered consistent results and measurable improvements:

• 71% pre-legal recovery rate, with an additional 15% recovered via legal action
• A long-term partnership spanning 13 years, with over 10,000 accounts referred each month on a 90-day KPI turnaround
• Accounts either settled in full, placed under arrangement, resolved through litigation, or returned for write-off at the end of each cycle
• Enhanced services including branded debt recovery campaigns, online payment portals, “fast track” for vulnerable customers, multi-currency collection, and robust data integrity controls
• Regular KPI audits, extending recovery performance and minimising complaints

“Based on openness and a joint ethos of core values, we have a strong 13-year partnership with Controlaccount. No request has been ignored, and the tailoring of reports has made everything relatively seamless. This also led to a significant reduction in frontend queries.”

Why Choose Controlaccount for Logistics Debt Recovery?

By partnering with Controlaccount, courier, freight, transport, and logistics organisations benefit from:

• A proven track record with some of the largest global logistics providers
• A strategic, ethical approach that focuses on pre-legal solutions first
• Expertise in recovering unpaid VAT and Duty, as well as transportation costs
• Streamlined processes, transparent reporting, and advanced technology integration

Strengthening Financial Stability in a Global Industry

Unpaid VAT, Duty, and transport costs remain a persistent challenge for courier, freight, and logistics businesses. Controlaccount’s international debt recovery services provide the reach, expertise, and sector knowledge needed to resolve these debts efficiently. By safeguarding financial stability and improving cash management, we enable our clients to focus on growth and service excellence in a highly competitive market.

Contact us today to discuss how Controlaccount can support your organisation’s UK and international debt recovery needs.